We begin a new four-week worship series this week called Talking Ourselves into Being Christian. We hope this worship series will help us to talk about following Jesus in our everyday lives. Our worship series is based on a book called Testimony: Talking Ourselves into Being Christian by Thomas G. Long, a professor of theology and preaching at Candler School of Theology.
Outline of Talking Ourselves into Being Christian
July 20: Overview. Living and Talking about Faith. Psalm 139.1-12,23-24
July 27: This is the Day: Waking Up to the Joy God is Creating in the World. Psalm 105.1-11, 45b
August 3: Work Day and Lunch: Talking About Faith in the Real World. Romans 9.1-5
August 10: Bedtime Prayers: Creating Safe Places in Our Homes. Psalm 133
Thomas Long writes, Talking about God outside of church is a potentially uncomfortable topic because it places many Christians in a bind. On the one hand, we know that our faith touches everything about life. It affects our relationships, our politics, the way we spend our money and spend our time. How strange if our faith did not show up in our everyday talk. On the other hand, everybody knows that God and religion, like sex and money, are touchy matters, and speaking about faith in public always runs the risk of offense or even social rejection. Few people want to wear their religion on their sleeves—or their T-shirts—and run the risk of sounding like a “Jesus freak” or committing a social faux pas. As the New Yorker said, “If you mention God more than once, you probably won’t be invited back” (Long, Thomas G. (2004-08-10). Testimony: Talking Ourselves into Being Christian (pp. 3-4). John Wiley and Sons. Kindle Edition).
Consider a time when you were uncomfortable talking about your faith with others. What mades talking about your faith so difficult? When have you been able to talk about your faith outside of worship?
Take time today to read Psalm 139.1-12,23-24 and allow this reading to be your prayer for today.